Folding cot



(N0 Model.) P. S.MARTYNY.

FOLDING GOT. No. 269,079. Patented Dec. 12 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

FRANK S. MARTYNY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FOLDING COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,079, dated December 12, 1882.

Application filed October 31, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK S. MARTYNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gineinnati, inthe county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding (lots, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The entire frame of my improved folding cot is preferably made of metal, the side rails, to which the canvas covering is applied, being composed of plates whose upper edges are so curved or otherwise shaped as to form longitudinally-slotted tubes that receive tucked portions of said canvas, these tucks being traversed by suitable poles wherewith the cover.- ing is secured in position, as hereinafter more fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Another feature of my improved folding cot consists in pivoting to said side rails two pairs of crossed legs, which legs are maintained in being secured to the tubular side rails.

their open position, so as to support the cot,- by a system of knuckle-jointed braces, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Furthermore, my invention consists in applying a knuckle-jointed frame to the side rails of any description of folding cot, which frame can be opened in the summer, so as to support amosquito-net, and can be closed up in the winter and concealed beneath the canvas that connects said side rails, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the under side of my folding cotin its closed condition, the canvas covering being omitted therefrom. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper side of the cot-frame in its open position. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the knuckle-jointed mosquitonet frame applied to one of the side rails of the cot. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section through the upper part of the cot, the canvas covering Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section,showing said covering in the act of being applied to.

the cot..

A and 13 represent the side rails of my folding cot, said members being preferably composed of metallic plates sutficiently thick to prevent buckling or bending. Furthermore, the upper margin of plateA is bent to a tubuplate, B, is furnished with a precisely similar arrangement of slotted tube, b b. In fact, these two members A a a and B b b are facsimiles of each other, being made on the same forming-machine. The head of the cot is supported 011 two legs, 0 and D, crossed in the manner shown, and coupled to each other by a pivot, E. The upper ends of these legs are slotted at 0 cl to tit snugly around the lower margin of rails A B, and are pivoted to the latter at o and d.

Adapted to couple the leg 0 to rail A is a knuckle-jointed brace, F,that is readily opened on account of a recess',f, in the under edge of said rail. Leg D is coupled to rail B by-a similar knuckle-jointed brace, G, that occupies a cavity, g, in the under edge of rail B. The foot of the cot is supported on a similar arrangement of crossed legs, H and l, pivoted together at J. These legs, however, are not slotted at their upper ends, but are simply hinged respectivelyto rails A B at h i.

K is a k nucklejointed brace, thatconnects the leg H and rail A, said brace being adapted to occupy the recess it when the cot is closed. L is another similar brace, that unitesthe leg I to side rail B; and l is the cavity for said brace. Furthermore, it is preferred to make the legs H I somewhat shorter than the supports C D, in order that thecot may slope toward the foot, this end of the frame being narrower than the head of-the same, as seen in Fig. 2.

M represents a stout piece of canvas or other suitable fabric, upon which the bedding is to be placed, said canvas being provided with two side tucks, N N, of such a capacity as to about fill the tubular portions a b of rails A B, said tucks terminating respectively with curtains or valances n n, that may reach down to the floor, if desired. Adapted to slide freely within these tucks are poles or bars 0 O,preferably of wood.

The support for the mosquito-net consists of two vertical knuckle-jointed props, P P, pivoted to the opposite end of rail B and on the inner side of the same, said props having connected to them by knuckle-joints p p a longitudinal rod, R, a similar arrangement of props and rods being of course applied to the other side rail A.

When the cot is folded up and the canvas removed therefrom the frame assumes the compact condition seen in Fig. 1, the legs H I being first closed against the straight edges of rails A B, thereby causing the braces K L to enter the pockets k l of said rails. The other legs, 0 D, are then folded down on these legs H I, the braces F G of the former closing up snugly against the rails A B, as seen in Fig. 1. The cot now occupies the smallest possible space, and, being so compact and handy, can be readily stowed awayin aclosetor concealed under an ordinary bed. When required for use the legs 0 D are first turned up, so as to cause their slots 0 d to embrace the Sldt s of rails AB, after which act the otherlegs, H I, are unfolded, and the cot is then inverted and opened, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, a-reference to which illustrations will show that the peculiar arrangement of knuckle-jointed braces F G K L secures allot said legs in their proper positions and prevents th eiraccidental closure. The tuck N of canvas M is then inserted in slot 0t and caused to occupy the tube a of rail A, and the rod 0 being now'passed through said tuck, this side of the can vas is securely united to said rail. The other tuck, N,is then secured in the tube 1) by the pole or stick 0, and the cot is at once ready for the reception of the bedding. In some cases, however, it may be preferred to attach the canvas to the frame while the latter is in the inverted position seen in Fig. 1, and depend on the opening of the legs to impart the proper tension to said canvas.

In the winter season the props P P are folded down, so as to cause the bars R to lie. parallel with the rails A B and beneath the canvas M, as seen in Fig. 4; but in the summer said props are opened out, as seen in Fig. 3, the peculiar arrangement of the knucklecouplings serving to maintain the bars in their proper elevated positions. A mosquito net can now be applied to said bars in a few minutes.

In the d rawings,the tubes at and b are shown as cylindrical, because this is the shape that can be formed most expeditiously; but my invention is not to be limited to any specific construction of tubes; neither is it to be confined to a continuous tube, as the latter may be interrupted at intervals, if so desired. Again, the lower ends of props 'P Pinay be secured in sockets at the extremities of the poles O 0. Finally, it is apparent that the bent or tubular portions of said rails A B render the'latter very stiff and unyielding, and hence the metal ofwhich said plates are composed may be comparatively thin, thereby adding to the finished appearance of the cot, and enabling it to be manufactured and handled with the greatest facility.

I claim asmy invention 1. A folding cot the side rails of which, as A B, are furnished respectively with longitudinally-slotted tubes a ct b 1), within which the tucks N N of the canvas M are secured by poles O O, substantially as described.

2. A folding cot the side rails of which, as A B, have hinged to them two pairs of crossed legs, 0 c, D d E, H h I i J, said legs being maintained in their open positions by the knuckle-jointed braces F G K L, connecting said legs and rails, substantially as described.

3.- In combination with side rails of a folding cot, the knuckle-jointed props Pp Pp and rods It for supporting a mosquito-net, substantially as described.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a metallic folding cot consisting of side rails,

A B, crossed legsU c D d E, H h I t" J, and

knuckle-jointed braces F G K L, said side rails being furnished with longitudinally-slotted tubes at a b b, for the purpose specified.

5. In combination with the side rails, A B, of a folding cot, supported on hinged crosslegs 0 c Dd E, H h I i J, in the manner de- SGFlbtd, the excavations k Zin the lower edge of said rails to receive the closed knucklejointed braces K L, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, FRANK S. MARTYNY.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

